Days after the tragic death of Zoe Ball’s boyfriend Billy Yates, details are beginning to emerge about his state of mind.
According to reports, he had been “put under enormous pressure” after he fell victim to a convicted fraudster.
Christopher Lunn was Billy’s accountant who last year was jailed for five years leaving many clients with huge, unexpected tax bills, Billy included.
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The Sun says that there was never any suggestion that any of Lunn’s clients – such as Sadie Frost and Fiona Bruce – were aware of his dubious business activities.
However, many of them were forced to pay out massive bills!
After Lunn was sentenced the tax office said in a statement: “This investigation has already recovered £20million as Lunn’s former clients settle their tax liabilities, with more to come.”
It is understood the whole sorry business with Lunn could have added to Billy’s already fragile state of mind.
“Billy suffered from depression but the strain of being left with an unexpected tax bill hit him hard,” a friend of the deceased told The Sun.
“These sorts of things are a considerable concern for anyone — but it’s particularly tough when someone already has mental health issues to overcome.
“Fortunately he had a supportive network of family and friends around him.”
Billy, who was a cameraman for the Antiques Roadshow, was found at his home in Putney, having taken his own life.
It is still unclear as to the reason why Billy took such drastic action, but friends believe this tax incident just added pressure to him.
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Meanwhile, Zoe Ball is said to be devastated about Billy’s death and “is trying to get her head around it but she’s very delicate”.